South Side Fire Kills Man, Injures His Wife

An elderly man was killed and his wife critically injured Wednesday night in a fire apparently sparked by a cigarette in their South Side home, according to fire officials.

Ennis Oakes, 80, who was found lying on the floor in his bungalow at 8937 S. Parnell Ave., was pronounced dead at 9:30 p.m. in Roseland Community Hospital, said Reginald Threatt, a nursing supervisor.

Firefighters found his wife, Della Oakes, who is blind, sitting in the home, where a cigarette apparently ignited a couch, said 21st Battalion Chief James Pierce.

Della Oakes, who is in her 70s, was listed in critical condition Wednesday night at Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center after suffering a heart attack, said nursing supervisor Susie Strobel.

She also had severe burns to the face and was suffering smoke inhalation, Strobel said.

A boy who lives across the street first noticed the blaze and called firefighters about 8:35 p.m., according to a neighbor, Mrs. Floyd Clifton, and Pierce. Neighbors tried to rescue the couple but could not get into the house, Clifton said.

Firefighters struck the blaze by 8:55 p.m., using two trucks and two engines, fire officials said.

Firefighters had not determined the extent of the damage.

Clifton, of 8933 S. Parnell Ave., said the Oakes couple had lived in the home for more than 20 years.